Mid-Muffler Replacement

[mageiger]

So I found out today that I need a new mid muffler (I have a 3.2, btw). My local dealership quoted me ~$1,500 for the muffler replacement, so now I am debating on what to do. I am considering just eliminating the mid muffler entirely and just running two straight pipes to the rear mufflers/exhaust. The only thing that worries me is, being that the mid muffler is the most powerful, is that I will get too much drone while on the highway. I didn't know if anyone had done this before, or if anyone could chime in about the sound that will result if this is done. I have reviewed the muffler delete thread, but I am pretty sure that pertains to the rear mufflers, not the middle.

Also, if replacing the muffler with straight pipes will be too loud, does anyone know if you are able to buy just an aftermarket muffler instead of the whole exhaust system (such as AWE or APR). That may save me from having to spend $1,500 for another stock muffler.

Any help/suggestions is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[TURBOB8]

Whatever you do, it's going to sound great. 3.2's rule

[Limey]

for $1500 you could almost buy and aftermarket exhaust, thats what i'd do or go to a muffler shop and swap out with aftermarket ones

[mageiger]

for $1500 you could almost buy and aftermarket exhaust, thats what i'd do or go to a muffler shop and swap out with aftermarket ones

Ya, if the other options don't work I'll just be buying an AWE exhaust which would cost about the same as replacing the muffler. But I had a few other mods planned before I did the exhaust, so if I don't have to spend $1.5K now that would be ideal.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Pick up a 10"-12" magnaflow mid, run 2.5 SS to the tips. Delete the rears. ;)...





Cost will be $100ish for the mid, $200 for the pipe, $120 for two 3.5" tips and $200 max for fab/install

[Limey]

Damn that sounds sexy mops, nice looking car too

[mageiger]

Thanks for the info! Your setup sounds amazing.

[jbradle7]

Pick up a 10"-12" magnaflow mid, run 2.5 SS to the tips. Delete the rears. ;)...

Cost will be $100ish for the mid, $200 for the pipe, $120 for two 3.5" tips and $200 max for fab/install

I knew the 3.2 with exhaust mods sounded nice but that is impressive. Love it!

[dracolnyte]

just put a straight pipe there for $150, wont drone

[mageiger]

just put a straight pipe there for $150, wont drone

There would be two separte straight pipes (I am assuming thats what you meant). Do you know if there would be any sound difference between an x-pipe and two straight pipes?

The shop said it would be difficult and a little more costly to put an x-pipe in with the way the exhaust curves to the side after the mid muffler before connecting to the rear mufflers.

[eyrah]

There would be two separte straight pipes (I am assuming thats what you meant). Do you know if there would be any sound difference between an x-pipe and two straight pipes?

The shop said it would be difficult and a little more costly to put an x-pipe in with the way the exhaust curves to the side after the mid muffler before connecting to the rear mufflers.

DEFINITELY get an x-pipe. those things make it mean, i dont think anyone has one on the 3.2 B8 as far as i know... be the first!

[OmaHahn]

The complete Magnaflow exhaust system only costs $1,100! http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...ne=all&id=9884

Hey Mops - thanks for your PM, but I can't recall if we discussed any drone noise inside the car. Your car sounds great and I'm very close to doing the same - but worried about how loud it really is for daily driving. Is it possible to add Magnaflow rears too and will that sound good? I know AWE offers with and without the rears.

By-the-way, can someone clarify something... are there actually 3 mufflers on our cars? The mid and 2 rears? Looking at AWE's website it looks like they call the 2 rears "resonators," and not mufflers??? Thanks.

[TCHUN003]

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...ductId=1130498

Here's an x-pipe with aftermarket mufflers...I think magnaflow

[Mops@Nemesis]

The complete Magnaflow exhaust system only costs $1,100! http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...ne=all&id=9884

Hey Mops - thanks for your PM, but I can't recall if we discussed any drone nosie inside the car. Your car sounds great and I'm very close to doing the same - but worried about how loud it really is for daily driving. Is it possible to add Magnaflow rears too and will that sound good? I know AWE offers with and without the rears.

By-the-way, can someone clarify something... are there actually 3 mufflers on our cars? The mid and 2 rears? Looking at AWE's website it looks like they call the 2 rears "resonators," and not mufflers??? Thanks.

The magnaflow systems drone pretty bad. They use very thin piping. With mine, drone is minimal, hardly worth mentioning. Its very quiet just cruising around but
gets loud when you ask for it. I would start out running a mid, mid grade 2.5" SS and tips. If its too much then you can add some rear mufflers. I cannot stand drone nor loud/messy tones and I am 100% happy with my setup. Especially being its sounds better than the AWE imo and cost less than half.

[mageiger]

The magnaflow systems drone pretty bad. They use very thin piping. With mine, drone is minimal, hardly worth mentioning. Its very quiet just cruising around but
gets loud when you ask for it. I would start out running a mid, mid grade 2.5" SS and tips. If its too much then you can add some rear mufflers. I cannot stand drone nor loud/messy tones and I am 100% happy with my setup. Especially being its sounds better than the AWE imo and cost less than half.

Ya I'm definitely trying to avoid any drone since I will be doing a decent amount of highway driving. Hopefully with either an x-pipe/straight pipes or an aftermarket mid muffler, the drone will be minimal due to the rear mufflers toning it down. I am going to try and get just the AWE muffler if I am able to purchase one separately. If I am unable to, my local shop recommended a brand called Xlerator for my mid muffler (which is supposedly made my Flowmaster, I think).

[dracolnyte]

There would be two separte straight pipes (I am assuming thats what you meant). Do you know if there would be any sound difference between an x-pipe and two straight pipes?

The shop said it would be difficult and a little more costly to put an x-pipe in with the way the exhaust curves to the side after the mid muffler before connecting to the rear mufflers.

oops sorry didnt read it was a 3.2, yeah X pipe is the way to go then

[mageiger]

Here are just a few pics for reference for anyone with a 3.2. I think I may be able to get my hands on a Magnaflow muffler (if I can't get an AWE one) so I would be replacing the mid muffler pictured below with the Maganflow or AWE and leave both of the rear mufflers/resonators.

[JOS4AUDI]

The magnaflow systems drone pretty bad. They use very thin piping. With mine, drone is minimal, hardly worth mentioning. Its very quiet just cruising around but
gets loud when you ask for it. I would start out running a mid, mid grade 2.5" SS and tips. If its too much then you can add some rear mufflers. I cannot stand drone nor loud/messy tones and I am 100% happy with my setup. Especially being its sounds better than the AWE imo and cost less than half.

Ya mops car sounds amazing in person!! Mops has heard the exhaust on both my cars. The magnaflow sounds great on the Q its your best option i think for the money. Does AWE sell just mufflers?

[Mops@Nemesis]

Yes MF does make a nice clean sounding muffler. Not sure I would trust anything FM produces but I could be wrong. 3.2 Q sounds quite civil. Hell NO, AWE will not sell a muffler. Why would they. They charge $1500 ish for a full system. So for $1500 you get a mid, pipe and tips. The pipe runs them $150 tops, tips maybe $50. So the mid is worth $1300~. Custom

[JOS4AUDI]

That's what I thought thanks for clearing that up. I love custom only reason I bought exhaust for my S is I got a good deal in classifieds.